Margherita Risotto

BY Rosane Oliveira, DVM, PhD

Our Margherita Risotto is packed with the tastes and colors of Italy, including green spinach and basil, white Arborio rice, and red Roma tomatoes. The dish can be made in just 30 minutes, but it requires constant TLC, so make sure you read our tips in the notes section to help you along. Once you have mastered the art of risotto, you are sure to impress your friends with this elegant and flavorful meal! You may also want to give our recipe for Classic Mushroom Risotto a try.

Note: It is best to use a burner-sized pan when preparing risotto so it is heated evenly and the rice has a chance to rub together to create starch, which makes the dish creamy. The vegetable broth should be pre-heated so cooking time is not slowed. Make sure the heat is adjusted so the rice is simmering but not boiling. Stir almost constantly to avoid sticking and burning, but take periodic, brief breaks so the rice does not become gluey. Only add as much vegetable broth as needed for the rice to reach al dente texture. Vegetables should always be added at the end, off the heat, to prevent them from becoming mushy.

*This classic Italian recipe is traditionally prepared with white wine, which gives the rice added flavor. However, vegetable broth may be substituted. Also, for a different spin, try using sun-dried tomatoes in place of Roma tomatoes.

Rosane Oliveira, DVM, PhD

Rosane Oliveira, DVM, PhD is Founding Director of UC Davis Integrative Medicine and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Department of Public Health Sciences at the School of Medicine at the University of California Davis. Blending a life-long passion for food and nutrition with over 20 years of scientific experience in genetic research, Dr. Oliveira is devoted to educating people about how food and lifestyle choices can affect genetic expression–i.e. how genes are turned on and off and either cause disease or promote health. She is a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and has lived in the US since 2003.